A Parent's Prayer

Oh, heavenly Father
Make me a better parent.
Teach me to understand my children,
To listen patiently to what they have to say
And to answer all their questions kindly.
Keep me from interrupting them or contradicting them,
Make me as courteous to them as I would have them be to me.
Forbid that I should ever laugh at their mistakes or
Resort to shame or ridicule when they displease me.
May I never punish them for my own selfish satisfaction
Or to show my power.
Let me not tempt my child to lie or steal.
And guide me hour by hour that I may demonstrate
By all I say and do that honesty produces happiness.
Reduce, I pray the meanness in me.
And when I am out of sorts, help me,
O Lord, To hold my tongue.
May I ever be mindful that my children are children
And I should not expect of them the judgment of adults.
Let me not rob them of the opportunity to wait on themselves
And to make decisions.
Bless me with the bigness to grant them
All their reasonable requests and the courage to deny them
Privileges I know will do them harm.
And fit me, O Lord, to be loved and respected
And imitated by my children.

Author: unknown